Conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons over zeolite H-ZSM-5: On the origin of the olefinic species

Abstract

This study examined the reaction mechanism with respect to both catalyst deactivation and product formation in the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons over zeolite H-ZSM-5. The reactivity of the organics residing in the zeolite voids during the reaction was assessed by transient 12C/13C methanol-switching experiments. In contrast to previously investigated catalysts (H-SAPO-34 and H-beta), hexamethylbenzene is virtually unreactive in H-ZSM-5 and is thus not a relevant reaction intermediate for alkene formation. However, the lower methylbenzenes are reaction intermediates in a hydrocarbon pool-type mechanistic cycle and are responsible for the formation of ethene and propene. An additional reaction cycle not applicable for ethene also must be taken into account. The C3+ alkenes are to formed through rapid alkene methylation and cracking steps to a considerable extent; thus, methanol is converted to hydrocarbons according to two catalytic cycles over H-ZSM-5. Moreover, in contrast to what occurs for large-pore zeolites/zeotypes, molecules larger than hexamethylbenzenes are not built up inside the H-ZSM-5 channels during deactivation. Thus, deactivation is explained by coke formation on the external surface of the zeolite crystallites only. This is a plausible rationale for the superior lifetime properties of H-ZSM-5 in the methanol-to-hydrocarbon reaction.